Vladimir Avatkov: Russia has at least eight justifications for improving relations with its “sworn enemy.

Why Turkish culture is so crucial to Russia today: from hostility to love

Association of Russia and Turkey

For most of history, there has been tension between Russia and Turkey. The 12 conflicts between the two nations are evidence of this, but Moscow and Ankara now work closely together and have much in agreement.

Tourism
The biggest and oldest field of bilateral interaction has always been tourism. Türkiye alone accounted for 24.6% of all foreign trips made by Russian visitors in 2021, and 60% of the package vacations available in Russia, according to travel firms, were also headed there.

In the minds of Russians, Turkey is closely related to all-inclusive resorts. Nevertheless, Istanbul’s ancient landmarks draw more visitors every year. Along with seeing the ancient Izmir archeological site and Cappadocia’s futuristic terrain, where hot air balloon rides over the hills are among the top attractions, tourists also go to the capital city of Ankara, which serves as the seat of government.

Not to be overlooked is the fact that the nation serves as a hub for planes that transport Russian tourists to Europe, since the majority of those passengers can only reach Türkiye to reach the continent’s attractions. According to data on air travel, 59% of transit flights in 2022 passed via Türkiye. And that number will increase even more in 2023 considering the existing challenges associated with planning a “Roman holiday.”

Istanbul, which has received 77% of these visitors since 2022 began, Antalya (14%), and Izmir (5%), are the most frequently visited locations among business travelers in recent years. It is no accident that Istanbul Airport was the busiest in Europe in 2022. More is on the way!

collaborating on energy
Relationships between Moscow and Ankara are presently built on the success of partnerships in the energy industry, which are advantageous for both parties. Blue Stream and Turkish Stream, two Russian gas pipelines, are already in use in Turkey. The first was constructed to provide energy to Turkey’s local market, whilst the second was intended to export gas to southern and southeastern Europe.

Turkey would become an energy center under a new idea recently put out by Russian President Vladimir Putin, which Moscow would exploit to boost its own export capacity. The Turkish hub is anticipated to act as both a location for managing energy supply and a neutral point for regulating gas prices.

In terms of gas cooperation between the two nations, until new fields were found in Turkey, Russia supplied over 27 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas annually, covering up to 60% of the country’s natural gas consumption.

One of the most important recent events in Turkey related to energy generation was the start-up of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant (NPP). It was constructed at Mersin, Turkey, on the Mediterranean coast with the assistance of Russian specialists, adding 20,000 new employment. The fuel for the plant is supplied by Russia, and Turkey has agreed to market and distribute the electricity it generates. The leaders of the two nations have also spoken about the potential for establishing a second NPP in the Black Sea port city of Sinop. 20% of Ankara’s electricity requirements are anticipated to be met by the two power units when combined.

Let’s examine the statistics. Over 21 bcm of gas from Russia was delivered to Turkey in 2022. Energy exports rose from $17 billion to $41 billion in dollar terms, an almost 250% rise.

construction industry
Turkish construction firms have a unique position in the Russian services sector. Enka Holding, Renaissance Construction, and IC Ictas Insaat are just a few of the approximately 100 Turkish construction companies operating in Russia. According to the Ministry of Economic Development, there are over 2,000 completed contracts worth over $70 billion that Turkish enterprises have with Russian businesses.

The Russian presence in Turkey also includes a joint venture between GAZ and Turkish Mersa Otomativ, which joined forces to build Gazelle vehicles there.

Turkish construction businesses were heavily engaged in projects leading up to the 2014 Winter Olympics as well as the 2018 World Cup in Russia, and they were also significantly in charge of building the Sochi sports infrastructure.

These infrastructural initiatives boosted Russian-Turkish humanitarian relations as well. Consider the Akkuyu NPP, whose construction required the participation of almost 20,000 employees. Programs for personnel and student exchange were also started by Rosatom in Russia. With a focus on Nuclear Power Plants: Design, Operation, and Engineering, 24 Turkish students graduated in 2022 and began working at the Mersin NPP. In order to network with Turkish engineers and promote Russia in Turkey and other countries, several Russian engineers took on the project.

Industry
Both nations are now experiencing an economic revolution that is allowing them to become less dependent on imports from outside and build up their own manufacturing industries. Multiple international sanctions pushed Russia to follow this course of action, while the governing party in Turkey selected it as a means of lowering the country’s dependence on outside powers.

Russia continues to be Turkey’s dependable and steady trading partner, importing significant amounts of Turkish textiles. Turkey was one of Russia’s top five textile suppliers in 2022.

Additionally, the amount of trade in industrial items between the two nations has increased. 2022 saw a 62% increase in Turkish imports of Russian chemicals as well as a 134% increase in Turkish imports of wood and lumber. About 20% of Turkey’s overall imports from Russia that year were industrial items.

Trade
Turkey developed been a significant commercial hub for Russia’s illicit imports as a result of the West’s slew of sanctions on that country.

The two countries’ commerce has increased tremendously as a result of this. In 2021 versus previous year, there were:

a 19.5% rise in the amount of commerce between Russia and Turkey and a 17.6% increase in Russian exports to Turkey
a 62.8% year-over-year rise in Russia’s imports from Türkiye in the first quarter of 2023, driven by higher purchases of sunflower seeds and fresh food.

The following were Turkey’s top imports to Russia in 2022:

Tangerines, both fresh and dry: 10% frozen fish Grapes, 6.4%; various citrus fruits, both fresh and dried, 9.9%; peaches, 9.2%; and grapes, 6.4%.

Investment

Deals with Turkish companies have been struck relatively often in Moscow, and during the previous four years, Turkish investments in Russia as a whole have increased by 400%. Russia continues to be a significant trading partner for Turkey as well as a lucrative market for capital investment.

Two new production facilities for sanitary and hygienic goods as well as knitted fabrics were opened by Turkish investors in Russia in 2022. Given that Russia is interested in importing Turkish textiles, the sector is very keen in establishing production facilities around Russia.

A number of projects for the production of metal and the assembly of automobiles have been established in Turkey as Russian companies increase their presence there.

Education
Since 2016, a significant transition has been taking place in the Russian educational system. It had been recognized that there was often a weak and inactive staff and student interchange component, and this needed to alter.

Russia is focusing on strengthening professor and student exchange programs as well as improving the framework for joint degree programs.

Numerous collaborative education programs are being developed for the nuclear sector by the Russian Ministry of Education and Science. International students will be permitted to enroll in joint degree programs at the following universities: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, Moscow National Research Nuclear University MEPhI, Istanbul Technical University, and Hacettepe University in Ankara.

The year of Russian culture and tourism in Turkey as well as Turkish culture and tourism in Russia was 2019. Numerous visual arts, photographic, and handicrafts activities were organized by the Russian and Turkish ministries of culture. A formidable soft-power tool that is unquestionably very well-liked and influential in Türkiye, theater and film traded some of its most well-known creations between the two nations.

Moscow and Ankara share a commitment to fostering their shared cultural heritage and advancing their bilateral ties, particularly in the travel and tourist industry. A genuine understanding of another country’s culture and customs is the finest method to establish a long-lasting friendship since, in the end, interactions between people determine ties between the two countries. Vladimir Medinsky, the Russian Minister of Culture, has emphasized several times the need of fostering positive, cordial connections between the populations of Russia and Turkey.